Updated on January 6, 2025 by Ruth
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Mint is a versatile and aromatic herb that can easily be grown in various settings, making it a favorite among gardeners and culinary enthusiasts alike. Whether you have a spacious garden, a sunny balcony, or even just a sunny windowsill, you can enjoy the pleasures of growing mint. In this guide, we’ll explore how to grow mint in containers, indoors, and how to propagate new plants from cuttings, so you can enjoy a fresh supply of this delightful herb year-round.
Table of Contents
Growing mint in the garden
Mint is a classic culinary herb, so it is no wonder that mint is a favorite to add to the garden. There are many different types of mint, with subtle variations in flavor, texture, and color. Mint can grow in full sun, half sun, or nearly all shade in a wide variety of soil types. Mint can handle dry conditions, but continues to grow best with some weekly water. In a drought situation, mint will go into dormancy.
Mint’s growing habit can be invasive, so it is critical to keep the plant where you want it.
You can plan for it to act as a ground cover and spread over an area. Simply mow over or till under any plants that have moved into an area where you don’t want them. Mint is a hardy perennial herb in zones 4-9, tolerating both cold and heat.
You can plant mint in a raised bed within the garden so that it has boundaries to keep it from spreading.
Can you grow mint in a container?
You can grow mint in a container, placing it outside in the spring through fall, and then bringing it inside for the winter.
The size of the container will determine how large and how well your plant grows. Mint spreads from the root, sending up new shoots that then produce more leaves. You want a pot that is at least 8 inches in diameter across the top. Mint has fairly shallow roots, so the pot does not need to be more than 6” deep.
Since mint can grow a lot during the spring and summer seasons, you will need to either divide the plant or up-pot into a larger container each year. To divide the plant, water it thoroughly and then gently break it into two sections. Place each section into a pot with fresh soil. The best time to do this is late fall or winter when the plant is semi-dormant. However, mint is very hardy and withstands transplant quite easily.
Make sure that any container you use has drainage holes in the bottom so that excess water can drain out. Use a standard bedding mix for the soil. This has compost already mixed in, which is sufficient fertilizer.
Can you grow mint indoors?
If you want your mint to continue growing throughout the winter indoors, it is important to bring the container inside before nighttime temperatures fall below 50F. Cool nighttime temperatures signal the plant to go dormant.
Your mint will grow best where it has moderate heat, 60-75F, and as much sun as possible. When the daylight hours are less than 10 hours per day, the mint will grow very slowly. Once the hours are 10 hours or more each day, the mint will start growing more quickly. Even if your mint is in a window and having access to 4-6 hours of sun, the total number of daylight hours will affect the growing rate.
Mint indoors can have some of the issues that other houseplants have, such as aphids or mildew. Keep the plant a little dry, letting it dry out completely in-between waterings. Wipe the leaves or mist them once a week, making sure to wipe the undersides of the leaves clean of any dirt or debris.
I recommend moving your plant outside for the summer. Move it outside when nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50F, and bring it back inside before the nighttime temperatures drop below 50F.
The breezes and rain are good for the mint plant and help keep it healthy.
Can mint grow in water?
You can take a stalk of mint and put it in a cup of water, about half in water and half out. Roots will start to grow within a week. Change the water every 2-3 days. Once you have some root growth, you can then plant it in soil.
Can you leave the mint in the water? Mint can grow in water indefinitely as long as it has access to light, nutrients, and the water is changed regularly to prevent stagnation and the buildup of algae. Water does not contain nutrients for plants, so you will need to add some liquid fertilizer. However, mint grown in water may not be as vigorous or flavorful as mint grown in soil, as it may lack some essential nutrients found in soil. Additionally, over time, the plant may become rootbound and require transplanting into soil for optimal growth.
If you have a hydroponic system, mint will grow quite well, as there should be nutrients which are added to the water.
Can you grow mint from cuttings?
Mint is one of the easiest plants to root from cuttings. You can cut a stem or a section of the plant and put it in water, if you want to watch the roots grow, or directly into damp soil. After 7 days roots will grow and you can then transplant into soil as needed. If you put the cutting directly into soil, keep the soil moist for the first week. After that, reduce the watering to let the soil dry out in-between.
Mint harvest
Mint is very undemanding when it comes to harvest time. You can cut sprigs of mint whenever you want. You can cut to about 2 inches above the ground and the mint will grow back. You can ignore the mint for months and then cut some when you need it. If the mint plant produce some flower spikes, you can cut the flowers and use them (great mint flavor plus decorative) and the plant will continue to grow more leaves.
Favorite mint recipes
Add a sprig of fresh mint leaves to iced tea, iced coffee, lemonade, water, smoothies, milkshakes.
Mint Lemonade: Mix fresh lemon juice, sugar, water, and fresh mint leaves for a zesty and cooling drink.
Minty Mocktail: Mix fresh mint leaves with soda water, fruit juice, and a splash of grenadine for a non-alcoholic drink option.
Mint Julep: A classic cocktail made with bourbon, sugar, water, and fresh mint leaves, often served over crushed ice.
Minted Peas:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh or frozen peas
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- If using fresh peas, shell them and set aside. If using frozen peas, thaw them.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the peas to the saucepan and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until they are heated through.
- Stir in the chopped mint leaves and continue to cook for another minute.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Mint Pesto Pasta:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh mint leaves, packed
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, packed
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 oz pasta of your choice
Instructions:
- In a food processor, combine the mint leaves, parsley, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and garlic. Pulse until finely chopped.
- With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture forms a smooth paste. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the mint pesto, adding pasta cooking water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve the pasta warm, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and a sprig of fresh mint, if desired.
Where can you find mint plants?
While mint can be started from seed, it is easy to start your mint garden with some plants. Many garden centers and farm markets carry a variety of mint plants in the spring. Often the farmer is dividing mint plants and up-potting them, so you are able to have the same variety and hardiness of what the farmer is growing.
You may also be able to find someone who will share cuttings with you. If you want some of the more exotic varieties, look for a plant exchange or a plant event hosted by a county extension service or a university Ag Day. Starting from seed is always an option.
Conclusion
In conclusion, growing mint can be a rewarding experience, adding freshness and flavor to your dishes, drinks, and even your garden. Whether you choose to grow it in containers, indoors, or take cuttings for propagation, mint is a versatile herb that can thrive with minimal care. By following these tips, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of mint leaves for years to come. So, roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and watch your mint garden flourish!
If you are close to our farm in Wilmington, Delaware, please come visit! We grow mint in all four seasons, and we have six different types of mint plants for sale in the spring. Our farm market is open year round. If you are not nearby, please find a farm in your community and support them. Thank you for your interest in renewable agriculture.
Happy growing and happy eating!
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